3.67 GPA/161 LSAT African American Male Forum

[theoryland]

Went to NYU undergrad (English Major). 3. 67 GPA

Continued directly from NYU undergrad to a Ph.D. program at NYU in the humanities. Strong GPA at the graduate level, but this is an "arts related" field (i.e. Drama/Theater Arts) so I doubt it will be "impressive" to Law Schools.

LSAT at 161.

What chances do I have for admission to:

Georgetown
Emory
Northwestern
Berkeley
UCLA
Stanford (I know, im dreaming)


Am I over-reaching here? And im 27 years old. Am I "over-the-hill"?

[thepaintrain]

Went to NYU undergrad (English Major). 3. 67 GPA

Continued directly from NYU undergrad to a Ph.D. program at NYU in the humanities. Strong GPA at the graduate level, but this is an "arts related" field (i.e. Drama/Theater Arts) so I doubt it will be "impressive" to Law Schools.

LSAT at 161.

What chances do I have for admission to:

Georgetown
Emory
Northwestern
Berkeley
UCLA
Stanford (I know, im dreaming)


Am I over-reaching here? And im 27 years old. Am I "over-the-hill"?

First of all, you aren't over the hill. I'm 26 and starting this year. Pletny of people start in the late 20's. I think you have some good softs and I know being an AA male gave me a boost at a couple places for money and/or getting in when it was a toss up. I'd say chances at most of those schools are slim but that doesn't mean you shouldn't apply. I applied to 19 schools and if I did the process over again I'd apply to at least 25(mostly using fee waivers of course!)

[jlkjr]

I know a person on LSN that had 3.69/160 URM that got into Harvard Law. She also had some really nice softs.

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/Lschool10gurl

With Ph.D you would definitely stand out in a crowd of applicants. Dream big.

[theoryland]

Thanks for the encouragement. I should add though, I will not have completed my Ph.D. by the time I apply to law school this fall.

Does that make any kind of difference in my "soft" stats? In other words, how uncommon is it to have an applicant apply to law school while he is ALREADY enrolled in a Ph.D. program? I've completed all of my doctoral coursework, taught at NYU as both a doctoral teaching assistant and full undergraduate instructor, received all kinds of fancy dissertation fellowships, but have become so disenchanted by the "humanities," that I've decided to put my dissertation on hold and go to law school (while I still am in my twenties).

Now naturally, I do not need to disclose all of this info in my law school applications. As far as they're concerned, i'll be receiving my Ph.D. in May 2011.

I guess what Im asking is: should I mention the fact that I'm essentially putting my Ph.D. on hold to attend Law School, or will that actually raise redflags (and thus hinder my admission chances)?

[Snorre]

Now naturally, I do not need to disclose all of this info in my law school applications. As far as they're concerned, i'll be receiving my Ph.D. in May 2011.

I guess what Im asking is: should I mention the fact that I'm essentially putting my Ph.D. on hold to attend Law School, or will that actually raise redflags (and thus hinder my admission chances)?

Dunno about this. If I understand you correctly, you're ABD, expect law schools to evaluate your app under the assumption that you're going to go from ABD to PhD before starting law school, but have no intention of actually completing the dissertation (at least right now)?

That strikes me as a little sketchy, to be honest. I don't know what admissions policies are, but if they think they're admitting a PhD, I'm guessing that's what they actually expect to receive.

Why not just explain why you're not currently interested in completing the diss (there's no shame in that, to my mind; I kinda wish I'd had the sense to make that decision) and why you think that law school is a better way for you to go? Something like, "my course work and so on demonstrates my ability to complete a successful dissertation, but for the following reasons I no longer feel that doing so is consistent with my goals, blah, blah..." I do understand, though, your concern that they might draw a distinction (to your disfavor) between ABD and PhD. I'm just not sure that being cagey about your intentions is a good idea.

[theoryland]

Yes Snorre, exactly. I'm ABD.

Let me be clear though: I have no intention whatsoever to be be dishonest about the fact that I am currently an ABD Ph.D. student.

The question is: should I disclose the fact that I am essentially dropping out of graduate school, or simply say nothing. When they review my file it will be obvious from my transcripts that I have a B.A. and M.A. and a "pending" Ph.D.

I'm just not sure whether or not i'll finish my Ph.D. by May 2011. Because if I am admitted to the law school of my choice I would rather enter law school next fall and put the Ph.D. on "hold."

I know, its a bit confusing. Hence why I feel like I should just shut my mouth, send in my transcripts, and the let the admissions committee access my file accordingly.

You feel me?

[theoryland]

Why not just explain why you're not currently interested in completing the diss (there's no shame in that, to my mind; I kinda wish I'd had the sense to make that decision) and why you think that law school is a better way for you to go? Something like, "my course work and so on demonstrates my ability to complete a successful dissertation, but for the following reasons I no longer feel that doing so is consistent with my goals, blah, blah..." I do understand, though, your concern that they might draw a distinction (to your disfavor) between ABD and PhD. I'm just not sure that being cagey about your intentions is a good idea.

YES! Bingo. This is the route I was planning on taking (explaining why I've decided to essentially "transfer" fields). But you're right, I'm nervous that law schools will evaluate my decision to put my doctorate on hold, unfavorably.

[Snorre]

I guess I'm just not sure if this is the kind of thing they're going to go back and check on.

What I'd be worried about if you're not clear about your plans is--pretending for one second that they do check and find no PhD--if they might start to wonder if your not having completed the PhD was voluntary or not. Choosing to quit versus being invited to, that sort of thing. I think that's something you don't want to have them asking and it's something you could prevent (provided that it's necessary to do so).

[Snorre]

Why not just explain why you're not currently interested in completing the diss (there's no shame in that, to my mind; I kinda wish I'd had the sense to make that decision) and why you think that law school is a better way for you to go? Something like, "my course work and so on demonstrates my ability to complete a successful dissertation, but for the following reasons I no longer feel that doing so is consistent with my goals, blah, blah..." I do understand, though, your concern that they might draw a distinction (to your disfavor) between ABD and PhD. I'm just not sure that being cagey about your intentions is a good idea.

YES! Bingo. This is the route I was planning on taking (explaining why I've decided to essentially "transfer" fields). But you're right, I'm nervous that law schools will evaluate my decision to put my doctorate on hold, unfavorably.

Deleted. What I did or didn't do shouldn't matter to anyone anyway.

[Sh@keNb@ke]

.

[Sh@keNb@ke]

Went to NYU undergrad (English Major). 3. 67 GPA

Continued directly from NYU undergrad to a Ph.D. program at NYU in the humanities. Strong GPA at the graduate level, but this is an "arts related" field (i.e. Drama/Theater Arts) so I doubt it will be "impressive" to Law Schools.

LSAT at 161.

What chances do I have for admission to:

Georgetown
Emory
Northwestern
Berkeley
UCLA
Stanford (I know, im dreaming)

Am I over-reaching here? And im 27 years old. Am I "over-the-hill"?

Have you considered ED'ing to Columbia?

[soullogical]

Went to NYU undergrad (English Major). 3. 67 GPA

Continued directly from NYU undergrad to a Ph.D. program at NYU in the humanities. Strong GPA at the graduate level, but this is an "arts related" field (i.e. Drama/Theater Arts) so I doubt it will be "impressive" to Law Schools.

LSAT at 161.

What chances do I have for admission to:

Georgetown
Emory
Northwestern
Berkeley
UCLA
Stanford (I know, im dreaming)


Am I over-reaching here? And im 27 years old. Am I "over-the-hill"?

I hope that 27 isn't "over the hill" because I'm six years older than you and start my first year next month.

[thepaintrain]

Went to NYU undergrad (English Major). 3. 67 GPA

Continued directly from NYU undergrad to a Ph.D. program at NYU in the humanities. Strong GPA at the graduate level, but this is an "arts related" field (i.e. Drama/Theater Arts) so I doubt it will be "impressive" to Law Schools.

LSAT at 161.

What chances do I have for admission to:

Georgetown
Emory
Northwestern
Berkeley
UCLA
Stanford (I know, im dreaming)


Am I over-reaching here? And im 27 years old. Am I "over-the-hill"?

I hope that 27 isn't "over the hill" because I'm six years older than you and start my first year next month.

Nice pic. I can't believe Guru is dead. One of the most underappreciated hip hop artist I know of...

[theoryland]

Went to NYU undergrad (English Major). 3. 67 GPA

Continued directly from NYU undergrad to a Ph.D. program at NYU in the humanities. Strong GPA at the graduate level, but this is an "arts related" field (i.e. Drama/Theater Arts) so I doubt it will be "impressive" to Law Schools.

LSAT at 161.

What chances do I have for admission to:

Georgetown
Emory
Northwestern
Berkeley
UCLA
Stanford (I know, im dreaming)

Am I over-reaching here? And im 27 years old. Am I "over-the-hill"?

Have you considered ED'ing to Columbia?

Hadn't considered Ed'ing into Columbia (i've had enough of NYC) but would definitely EA to Cornell.